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When Dylan Heard 'I Get High': A Beatles Turning Point
8 Nov
Summary
- Bob Dylan misheard The Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand" as "I get high."
- The famous mishearing led to an encounter with John Lennon about marijuana.
- This night reportedly influenced The Beatles' later experimental music.
In late 1963, The Beatles released "I Want to Hold Your Hand," a song Bob Dylan would later famously misinterpret. Dylan believed the lyric was "I get high" instead of "I can't hide," assuming a reference to marijuana.
This perception led to a significant meeting on August 28, 1964. Journalist Al Aronowitz facilitated an encounter between Dylan and The Beatles in their New York City hotel suite. When the topic of marijuana arose, Dylan mentioned his misheard lyric, and John Lennon confirmed the actual words.
During this encounter, The Beatles' manager noted they had limited prior experience with marijuana. Dylan then offered Lennon a joint, who passed it to Ringo Starr as a "royal taster." Paul McCartney later described this night as a moment of profound thought.
Music historians view this event as a catalyst for change. Following this night, The Beatles' musical style evolved, becoming more experimental with albums such as "Rubber Soul" and "Revolver." Dylan's influence on their songwriting also reportedly grew.
